An Important Safety Message From Lincoln Mutual Insurance Company

In 2005, an estimated 14,500 reported U.S. structure fires involving clothes dryers or washing machines (or appliances combining washer and dryer) resulted in and estimated: 14 civilian deaths, 440 civilian injuries and $207 million in direct property damage. Please make it a regular practice of checking your home for regular maintenance issues and correct them before it’s too late! One maintenance issue we strongly encourage and support is the following:

Clothes Dryer & Washing Machine Safety

Don’t become one of the statistics above! Did you know that the leading cause of home clothes dryer and washer fires is the failure to clean them? The National Fire Protection Association and Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends the following SAFETY TIPS:

Have your dryer installed by a professional.

Clean the lint screen/filter before and after drying each load of clothes. If clothing is still damp at the end of a typical drying cycle or drying requires longer times than normal, this may indicate that the lint screen or the exhaust duct is blocked.

Clean the dryer vent and exhaust duct periodically. Check the outside dryer vent while the dryer is running to make sure exhaust air is escaping. If it is not, the vent or the exhaust duct may be blocked. To remove a blockage in the exhaust path, it may necessary to disconnect the exhaust duct from the dryer. Remember to reconnect the ducting to the dryer and outside vent before using the dryer again.

Clean behind the dryer, where lint can build up. Have a qualified service person clean the interior of the dryer chassis periodically to minimize the amount of lint accumulation. Keep the area around the dryer clean and free of clutter.

Replace plastic or foil, accordion-type ducting material with rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct. Most manufacturers specify the use of a rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct, which provides maximum airflow. The flexible plastic or foil type duct can more easily trap lint and is more susceptible to kinks or crushing, which can greatly reduce the airflow.

Never dry clothes or items that have come into contact with flammable substances or chemicals! A chemical such as gasoline, cooking oils, cleaning agents, finishing oils, paint thinner, alcohol and stains etc. is an extreme hazard. Please wash the clothing more than once to minimize the amount of volatile chemicals on the clothes and hang the clothes to dry! To prevent clothes from igniting after drying, do not leave the dried clothes or bath towels in the dryer or piled in a laundry basket. Take the time to fold and put them away!

View Services